The James White Library is a universal service for the university. The ongoing realignment of our schools and academic units has not diminished the need for the library; rather, it has strengthened the library's role as a service hub for the entire campus. As such, we recognized gaps in our infrastructure and services for supporting students and patrons with impairments.
While accessibility to the library exists, it is far from adequate. Addressing every structural challenge with current resources is beyond our reach (and we hope those larger issues will also be addressed). However, we committed ourselves to doing what we can to adapt our services to the needs of people with disabilities.
After conversations with the Andrews University Disability Accommodations coordinator, the library repurposed a temporarily unused office on the main floor to create a Disability Accommodated Study Room. As we began acquiring equipment, we realized that a blind graduate student, Derek Inapan, had started his studies in the music department. Professor Max Keller approached the library to ask whether we could help by printing 3D tactile plates of musical notation for this student. While producing these materials, we recognized that our outdated 3D printing service also needed renewal. To meet this need, we replaced unreliable legacy printers with two new, cutting-edge machines and established a dedicated 3D printing lab.
At the same time, we continued developing the Disability Accommodated Study Room. The space now includes a height-adjustable table, a fast computer with a large 32-inch monitor for easier reading, a microphone and enhanced audio system, and enabled accessibility features such as voice-command operation. We added noise-canceling headphones, a braille keyboard for visually impaired users, and a camera scanner that converts printed material into audio. We also retained a traditional text magnifier for those who prefer that technology. This phase of the project was completed last semester.
At the beginning of this semester, further conversations revealed that one key component was still missing: the ability to produce braille materials on site. For that reason, we purchased a high-speed braille printer recommended through the Library of Congress service for the blind. This newest addition completed the library’s Disability Accommodated Study Room. During the second week of February, we walked with Inapan through the new room. It was a joy to hear him say after his first experience in a room designed to support his learning: “You made my day!”
What did we learn through this project? We learned that when we engage in solving one problem to better serve students, we often improve other services as well. The modernization of our 3D printing service was a direct result of our accessibility efforts. We also learned that while we cannot do everything, even small and humble efforts, begun in the right direction, can bring joy and become meaningful steps forward.
We hope our experience will encourage other university departments to make efforts to address accessibility needs and to partner with the library in doing so.
Zorislav Plantak is the head of Library Systems at the James White Library.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.